Electric meter



(No Model.)

' W. P. SMITH.

ELECTRIC METER.

Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

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N PETERS. Pmmmm na, Washington. nc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER F. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITEDELECTRIC IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF GLOUCESTER CITY,

NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,214., dated Januaryas, 1890. Application filed May 24., 1889. Serial No. 311,938. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, WALTER F. SMITH, of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric Meters, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus formeasuring electricalenergy wherein the evolution of gas is employed in connecro tion withsuitable registering mechanism. In

some forms of such meters there is developed during the decomposition ofthe gas a foam or spray which if carried over by the gas into theregistering mechanism has a corror 5 sive and deteriorating effect andeventually impairs or destroys its functions. For instance, such may bethe case where the anodes and cathodes are plates of iron immersed in asolution of caustic potash, a meter of that character being shown inLetters Patent granted to me April 9, 1889, No. 401,226.

My present invention consists in interposing between the registeringmechanism and the chamber wherein the evolution of gas takes place afiltering device which prevents any matter passing over with the gas. Bypreference I employ a glass tube or bulb interposed between theregistering mechanism and the electrolytic chamber and place therein 0 amass of asbestus wool or other fibrous material that is indestructiblein the solution which may be employed. The filtering material is ofcourse sufficiently permeable to permit a free passage of the gas to theregis- '3 5 tering devices, but intercepts froth, spray, or

other matter which might be carried over with the gas. Asbestus wool isa suitable material to be employed with a meter of the characterdescribed in my application above mentioned.

The accompanying drawing is a diagram view illustrating the invention.

A represents a source of electric energy in the circuit of which themeter and lamps a or translating devices are placed.

In the meter, B represents the chamber in which the gas is formed, and Cthe casing of the registering mechanism, the registering indexes orpointers bei-ng marked a. In the passageway or tube through which thegas passes to the registering mechanism I place the filtering medium.

In the drawing D represents a glass tube connecting the two chambers andhaving an enlargement or bulb in which filtering material d is placed.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric-current meter, thecombination of the registering mechanism, the gasgenerating chamber forcontaining the solution or electrolyte, the circuit connectionstherewith, and an interposed filtering medium through which the gasgenerated from the solution by the current passes, substantially as setforth.

2. In an electric meter, the combination, with the registering mechanismand gas-generating chamber, of an interposed tube for the passage of thegas connecting the two and formed with an enlargement or bulb containinga filtering material, such as asbestus wool or the like, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WAL'IER F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. W. HURFF, MORRIS R. BOCKIUS.

